May 2
May 2
One Year Bible Readings:
Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Judges:
Judges 15 today is quite a chapter! Whew... Samson is a whirlwind in this chapter... I know I probably should not chuckle about this - but a donkey's jawbone?? Who would have ever thought this could be a lethal weapon. Well, now we all know it can be indeed. In Judges chapter 16 verse 3 we continue to see Samson's strength - "But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the city gates with its two posts, and lifted them, bar and all, right out of the ground. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron." And then we get to the famous story of Samson & Delilah. In verse 21 the Philistines finally overpower Samson by cutting his hair - a symbol of Samson's relationship with God.
Q: What stood out to you in reading about the life of Samson and Samson & Delilah? Have you ever been in an unhealthy relationship that God brought you out of?
John:
John chapter 2 verse 11 is of note - "This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him." It is interesting that John refers to Jesus' miracles as "signs." Signs seem to indicate the significance of Jesus' actions, rather than the marvel.
Q: What do you think Jesus' miracles might have been "signs" of? What do they mean to you today?
Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has a very interesting commentary on John chapter 2 verse 14 - "In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters." Tyndale answered the question of why there were merchants & money changers in the temple as follows: "The temple tax had to be paid in local currency, so foreigners had to have their money changed. But the moneychangers would often charge exorbitant exchange rates. The people were also required to make sacrifices for sins. Because of the long journey, many could not bring their own animals. The price of sacrificial animals was much higher in the temple than elsewhere." It is understandable why Jesus was upset with all of this. Thank goodness we do not have this system still in place for us today - with moneychangers & merchants for tax & animal sacrifices... thank you Jesus!
Q: What’s your reaction to Jesus’ “cleansing of the temple?” Was He justified in this? Have our churches today turned away from being a house of prayer and turned into being a market in any ways?
Psalm:
Psalm 103 is a great Psalm today! Each verse is a powerful reminder of God's character and our relationship to God. Verse 8 definitely stands out today - "The LORD is merciful and gracious. He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love."
Q: Do you believe that God is merciful and gracious? How have you experienced God's mercy? His grace? Do you believe that God is slow to get angry? When was the last time you experienced God's unfailing love?
Today in Psalm 103 verses 11 & 12 we read these verses about God – “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” I think these verses are a wonderful look at what it means to be spiritually reborn and living in relationship with God. These verses are a glimpse of the true freedom that is found in relationship with God - freedom of living in God’s perfect love, and freedom from our slavery to sin.
Q: Do you believe that God’s love for you is as high as the heavens are above the earth? Do you believe that God has removed your sins (transgressions) from you as far as the east is from the west? Do you thank God often for His love for you? Do you thank Jesus often for saving you from the bondage of sin?
Proverbs:
Proverbs chapter 14 verse 17 is convicting for me... wow... the Proverbs have been convicting me a bit more than I'm used to lately... I do take this as an overall good thing! It is good to get convicted by God's Word. Verse 17 - "Those who are short-tempered do foolish things, and schemers are hated." No, it's not the short-tempered piece that is convicting me, but that last piece - schemers are hated.. I don't like to admit it, but I think on occasion I am a schemer. I don't mean to be... but I think sometimes it seems as if I am. And when I am busted in a "scheme" - that I may not have really consciously thought was a scheme - there are some hurt feelings, anger and maybe even hatred toward me in that moment. Wow... bummer. I pray that I can move beyond being a schemer in every way. Life is too short to scheme!
Q: How about you? Are you ever a schemer? Even if you don't "mean to be one", are you still sometimes? Why do we scheme? Who are we trying to fool with our "schemes"? Ourselves?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
One Year Bible Readings:
Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Judges:
Judges 15 today is quite a chapter! Whew... Samson is a whirlwind in this chapter... I know I probably should not chuckle about this - but a donkey's jawbone?? Who would have ever thought this could be a lethal weapon. Well, now we all know it can be indeed. In Judges chapter 16 verse 3 we continue to see Samson's strength - "But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the city gates with its two posts, and lifted them, bar and all, right out of the ground. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron." And then we get to the famous story of Samson & Delilah. In verse 21 the Philistines finally overpower Samson by cutting his hair - a symbol of Samson's relationship with God.
Q: What stood out to you in reading about the life of Samson and Samson & Delilah? Have you ever been in an unhealthy relationship that God brought you out of?
John:
John chapter 2 verse 11 is of note - "This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him." It is interesting that John refers to Jesus' miracles as "signs." Signs seem to indicate the significance of Jesus' actions, rather than the marvel.
Q: What do you think Jesus' miracles might have been "signs" of? What do they mean to you today?
Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has a very interesting commentary on John chapter 2 verse 14 - "In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters." Tyndale answered the question of why there were merchants & money changers in the temple as follows: "The temple tax had to be paid in local currency, so foreigners had to have their money changed. But the moneychangers would often charge exorbitant exchange rates. The people were also required to make sacrifices for sins. Because of the long journey, many could not bring their own animals. The price of sacrificial animals was much higher in the temple than elsewhere." It is understandable why Jesus was upset with all of this. Thank goodness we do not have this system still in place for us today - with moneychangers & merchants for tax & animal sacrifices... thank you Jesus!
Q: What’s your reaction to Jesus’ “cleansing of the temple?” Was He justified in this? Have our churches today turned away from being a house of prayer and turned into being a market in any ways?
Psalm:
Psalm 103 is a great Psalm today! Each verse is a powerful reminder of God's character and our relationship to God. Verse 8 definitely stands out today - "The LORD is merciful and gracious. He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love."
Q: Do you believe that God is merciful and gracious? How have you experienced God's mercy? His grace? Do you believe that God is slow to get angry? When was the last time you experienced God's unfailing love?
Today in Psalm 103 verses 11 & 12 we read these verses about God – “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” I think these verses are a wonderful look at what it means to be spiritually reborn and living in relationship with God. These verses are a glimpse of the true freedom that is found in relationship with God - freedom of living in God’s perfect love, and freedom from our slavery to sin.
Q: Do you believe that God’s love for you is as high as the heavens are above the earth? Do you believe that God has removed your sins (transgressions) from you as far as the east is from the west? Do you thank God often for His love for you? Do you thank Jesus often for saving you from the bondage of sin?
Proverbs:
Proverbs chapter 14 verse 17 is convicting for me... wow... the Proverbs have been convicting me a bit more than I'm used to lately... I do take this as an overall good thing! It is good to get convicted by God's Word. Verse 17 - "Those who are short-tempered do foolish things, and schemers are hated." No, it's not the short-tempered piece that is convicting me, but that last piece - schemers are hated.. I don't like to admit it, but I think on occasion I am a schemer. I don't mean to be... but I think sometimes it seems as if I am. And when I am busted in a "scheme" - that I may not have really consciously thought was a scheme - there are some hurt feelings, anger and maybe even hatred toward me in that moment. Wow... bummer. I pray that I can move beyond being a schemer in every way. Life is too short to scheme!
Q: How about you? Are you ever a schemer? Even if you don't "mean to be one", are you still sometimes? Why do we scheme? Who are we trying to fool with our "schemes"? Ourselves?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
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