Daily Reading Week 13

Sunday

 Romans 12: 9-21

DISCOVER

  • What should Christians share with one another according to 12:15? 

  • What kind of “mind” should we have according to 12:16?

  • How should we not treat people who do evil to us – 12:17? 

  • What should concern us regarding how others view us (v17)?

  • Instead of seeking personal vengeance, what should we do – 12:19?


RESPOND


In today’s passage we see that God does not ask us to do what we cannot do. We cannot change the hearts of people so that they like us or have a desire to live in peace with us. Our calling is to live peaceably with people ``in so far as it depends on us”. All we can do sometimes is to not be rude, uncaring, or otherwise living in the flesh so that we do not give others a reason to be in conflict with us. Implicit in Paul’s instruction is that at times there will be nothing we can do to have a harmonious rel​ationship with some individuals. There are people who will take issue with us regardless of our behavior. Worse, we will encounter people who will actively seek our harm. In these situations, not only should we not seek vengeance, but we should actively do good for them and pray for them. God tells us to leave vengeance to him. We can be assured that ultimately all sin will be addressed. Either it was addressed at the cross, or it will be addressed in eternity. In either case, God’s vengeance is satisfied. To seek our own vengeance is to put ourselves in God’s role. If you are struggling with unforgiveness or a desire for revenge, ask God for forgiveness for your own sin, and pray for those who have wronged you. 


monday

Genesis 37

DISCOVER


  • What did Joseph do in 37:2 that would have angered his brothers?

  • How did Jacob feel about Joseph, and how did he show this feeling – 37:3,4? 

  • How did Joseph’s brothers react?

  • What plan did Joseph’s brothers make as he approached them– 37:17-20? 

  • What does this show about the brothers?


RESPOND


The narrative we see in Genesis 37 shows us clearly that the hearts of Joseph’s brothers were evil and dark. They have no difficulty si​​tting down to share a meal immediately after throwing Joseph into a dry well. Later in Genesis (Chapter 42) the brothers recall how they ignored the pleas and cries for mercy that came from that well while they ate. In selling Joseph to the Midianite traders the brothers hoped to prevent Joseph’s dreams from coming true. God however, used their wicked deeds to bring his plan to pass. Even through God’s providence Joseph’s path would not be easy. The same is true for us. There are times when we will face pain from others that is undeserved and while we should not minimize the difficulty of those times we can take comfort from Scripture. The providence of God is clear in the history recorded in the Bible. We also know “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). When we experience suffering undeservedly we also imitate Christ who chose to enter our reality and experience the pain of persecution even though he was completely innocent. If you are struggling with this kind of pain today, pray and ask to be given the mind of Christ so that you can endure what you are going through. 


Tuesday

Matthew 25:1-13

DISCOVER


  • What group of people does the story of this parable describe, and what purpose did they intend to accomplish – 25:1?

  • What mistake did the five foolish virgins make and what did the five wise virgins do to avoid the problem – 25:2-4?

  • How did the foolish virgins first attempt to solve the problem, and why did it not work – 25:5-9?

  • What lessons should we learn from the fact that the foolish virgins could not borrow oil from the wise?


RESPOND


Along with Matthew 7:21-23, today’s passage represents what I have always thought were the most frightening words in Scripture. Many of Jesus’ parables draw a comparison between people who reject the kingdom and those who embrace it. In chapter 24 Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, one who ultimately obeyed his father, and one who did not. In the parable of the virgins however, all of the virgins are members of the wedding party, representing professing Chrisitians. To the casual observer all of these virgins were equal. They were all friends of the bride and participants in the ceremony of the wedding. Jesus, represented here by the bridegroom, is no casual observer however. He knows who is, and who is not a faithful follower. The foolish virgins are not prepared for the bridgrooms delayed, but certain arrival. They did not count the cost of being a participant in the ceremony and were not prepared. Sacrifice and forethought are required to be a faithful follower of Christ and to be assured that professed faith is real. Unlike the foolish virgins, we cannot trust in the readiness of others. Being ready for Christ’s imminent return is our individual responsibility. We must ensure that our “lamps” are being fed, that we are continually growing in the love of God and our neighbor. If we do not, our “oil” will run out and we will be revealed as foolish and faithless.


WEDNESDAY

Proverbs 17

DISCOVER


  • What is the difference between one who truly forgives and one who brings up previous wrongs 17:9?

  • What difference exists between how a wise man learns and a fool learns according to 17:10? 

  • What should you and I learn?


RESPOND


It is likely that everyone has at one time or another gotten into trouble over something that they said. Sometimes we’re misinterpreted, but often we say what we mean and later regret it because of the consequences. Our words are powerful and have the potential to tear down as well as build up. When used wisely and with love our words can have a significant impact for good. Scripture is full of warnings about loose speech and instruction on how to speak with wisdom. Verses 9 and 10 of Proverbs 17 are but one example. Verse 9 encourages us to forgive offenses against us and indicates that implic​​it in true forgiveness is a commitment to not bring the offense up in the future. If we want to strengthen our bonds with family and friends, we must not recount forgiven wrongs. Verse 10 describes one aspect of the wise person as the ability to hear and listen to a wise rebuke. Unlike a stubborn fool who is punished one hundred times, a wise person can be trusted to humbly receive a well timed rebuke. Love and wisdom must govern our verbal interactions. We should speak the truth in love while also understanding a wise rebuke given in love is for our benefit.


Thursday

Ephesians 3

DISCOVER

  • How did Paul describe himself – 3:1? 

  • What does this tell about his circumstances?

  • What is the mystery Paul describes in 3:3-5?

  • What did Paul do with his knowledge of the mystery?

  • What did the mystery reveal regarding the Gentiles – 3:6?

  • How did this differ from their previous status (chapter 2)?


RESPOND


Ephesians 3 contains some of the clearest verses in all of the Pauline epistles showing that the redemption of the lost is ultimately about making the glory of God known to all creation. We see that the advance of the church through the spread of the gospel is designed to proclaim “the multifaceted (or manifold)) wisdom of God”. How does the church demonstrate God’s glory and wisdom? In the first century it was through the fellowship between converted Jews and Christian Gentiles. Paul emphasizes the unity of the Jew and Gentile in Christ and the end of the Law of Moses as a divider between them. In our day people of different races, ethnicity, and backgrounds continue to come together in Christ to worship and live life together. A unified church is one of the most powerful displays of God’s glory. We should always seek to forgive our fellow believers and bear with each other in love as we study the Word and worship together in an attempt to achieve unity and reflect God’s glory to the world.


Friday

Romans 10

DISCOVER

  • In what sense is the word near us – 10:8? What should we learn?

  • What conditions for salvation are listed in 10:9,10?

  • What specifically does v9 say we must believe? What lessons should we learn?

  • What does 10:12 teach about who can believe in Jesus?


RESPOND


On Tuesday we looked at the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins as recounted by Matthew in the 25th chapter of his gospel. In this parable we hear a very sobering warning from our Lord. Not everyone who professes faith has saving faith. Today, as we look at chapter 10 of Romans, Paul helps us understand what saving faith looks like and how we can avoid the fate of the foolish virgins. 

  • True faith is repentant (Mark 1:15). It recognizes our sinful condition and encourages us to turn from our present lifestyle to a life following and obeying Christ. 

  • True faith is in a person - Jesus Christ (v.9). We must know something about him and believe he is who he says he is and in what he has accomplished on our behalf. 

  • True faith is a trusting faith (v. 10). Not only do we have to know about Jesus and believe what we know of him is true, we have to have complete trust that he will accomplish all that he promises. We demonstrate this by obeying him and following his commandments (John 14:15). We know that we cannot do this perfectly, and that our good works contribute nothing to our justification, but our sincere and consistent pursuit of a life that looks like Jesus demonstrates that saving faith is present. While our good works in no sense justify us, if we do not see them in our life it should lead us to ask why.

Saturday

Romans 11

DISCOVER


  • What two characteristics of God are illustrated – 11:22? How is each illustrated?

  • What possibility is raised in 11:23?

  • What reason is given in 11:24 why this could occur?

  • What does 11:25 say happened to Israel? What resulted to Gentiles?

  • Why should Gentiles not be ignorant of this?

  • What does Paul conclude regarding God’s wisdom and knowledge – 11:33?


RESPOND


It has been said that the end goal of good theology is doxology - the praise of God. In chapter 11 of Romans Paul models this for us. In chapters 1-10 Paul has focused on complex and at times difficult to hear truths. He anguishes over the current state of Israel and its rejection of Jesus. He shows that salvation is ultimately in the hands of God. While placing the blame on Israel for stumbling over Christ, he recognizes God’s sovereignty in this to save the Gentiles. Generally Paul has preached a strong view of sovereignty that has God fully in control of all things while showing that sinners alone are responsible for their evil actions. Paul chooses in some places to peel back layers of mystery but in others he does not. In all instances Paul is content to let God be God, acknowledging our limited nature as created beings, and bowing to God’s wisdom as unquestionably superior to our own. As Paul bursts into praise in verses 33-36 we can almost hear his voice grow louder and louder as a preacher in the pulpit, and having said all that he can he bows in worship. Worship is the only appropriate response as we begin to understand the deep truths of the gospel. We are finite beings and will never fully understand God in his fullness even as we continue to learn about him in eternity. As we continue to learn about him, our awe should and will grow as well.