Daily Reading Week 8
Sunday
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Discover:
When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, there was an antinomian spirit (the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation to observe the moral law) in the church. That’s clear from 1 Corinthians 6:12–13, where the Apostle quotes some of the things the Corinthian believers were saying to argue that they could do whatever they wanted and that whatever they did with their bodies couldn’t really affect their souls. They were trying to justify sexual immorality (v. 13), and in today’s passage, we see the specific form this immorality took. Apparently, some of the believers in Corinth thought they could be Christians and visit prostitutes.
Paul quickly refutes this idea. He points out that God will raise our bodies from the dead. Later in this letter, Paul explains that in the final resurrection, we’ll be like Jesus, fully sharing His image. We’ll have perfected bodies, free from the effects of sin. Since these will be the bodies we have now, only fully restored and cleansed of all weaknesses, there’s a certain connection between our pre-resurrection and post-resurrection bodies. What we’ll be in the future should be a reflection of this now, though not perfect. So, we should live in holiness now, looking forward to the perfect holiness we’ll have at the last day. Using our bodies for sin today goes against the sinlessness they’ll enjoy when Jesus returns. Matthew Henry wrote, “The hopes of a resurrection to glory should keep Christians from dishonoring their bodies by lustful desires.”
Paul also explains that we shouldn’t be sexually immoral because of our union with Christ. We’re all part of His body, and His members shouldn’t be united to others through illegal sexual acts. Since we’ve become one spirit with Christ through faith, we can’t seek the union of these holy members with those who use sex as a commodity, which is an unholy practice.
Sadly, many Christians today are involved in illegal sexual activity, thinking that sex outside of marriage is okay for Christians. But if we’re united to Christ, we can’t unite ourselves to others through forbidden—and thus unholy—sexual activity with them. Let’s turn away from all illegal sexual thoughts and actions, and look to Christ every day to help us resist temptation.
Respond:
1. How do you understand the concept of Christian freedom in your own life?
2. In what ways can you honor God with your body and choices?
3. What are some areas where you might be tempted to say, "I have the right to do anything," and how can you align those areas with God's standards?
Monday
Romans 2:12-16
Discover:
Since God is the Creator, He holds the ultimate authority over the entire universe. Everything exists because of His will, and He answers to no one else. Governments and families get their authority from the Lord, but their power isn't absolute. Only God's moral law binds our consciences, and we must obey Him, even if it means disobeying lesser authorities in certain situations.
Even though our society often talks about moral relativism, the existence of any laws at all shows that there is a supreme, objective authority. We write laws because we instinctively know there's a proper moral order to the universe. This is because God's law is written on the hearts of all people. Romans 2:14 tells us that even non-believers have ethical standards, proving that everyone is made in God's image and has His moral principles on their consciences. Even without Scripture, people know that killing innocent humans is wrong and can distinguish between murder and justified killing. God's law on their hearts tells them when killing is clearly wrong, even if they don't always interpret it correctly.
The concept of natural law is the universal sense of right and wrong. Western legal systems have been heavily influenced by this idea, although recent years have seen a shift away from it in public education, politics, and law schools.
There are no true moral relativists. When people claim there's no universal right and wrong, they contradict themselves when they complain about unfair treatment. This inconsistency shows that we can find common ground with non-believers when sharing the gospel. Appealing to their innate sense of right and wrong is a powerful way to demonstrate God's existence.
Respond:
1. How do you experience the "law written on your heart" in your daily life?
2. In what ways do you see God's moral code reflected in the world around you?
3. How can you cultivate a more sensitive conscience to align your actions with God's will?
Tuesday
Leviticus 19:1-2
Discover:
We know that God is full of mercy and always ready to forgive those who repent. However, it's important to remember that God isn't obligated to forgive anyone, especially if it would compromise His righteousness and make sin seem trivial. He shows mercy and compassion to whomever He chooses. The only way He can forgive without compromising His holy character is by having “steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Ps. 85:10). God forgives those who trust in His promises and rely completely on Jesus, who was condemned for sinners so they could receive the blessing of forgiveness.
We need forgiveness not just because we've sinned against others, but because we've failed to reflect God's image and fallen short of the glory He intended for us. Our Creator called His old covenant people to be holy just as He is holy — set apart from all impurity and pure in character. This call extends to everyone, both Jew and Gentile, and especially to the church.
The demand for holiness is incredibly high — everyone is to be as holy as God is holy. Our predicament is equally great — sinners can't possibly be this holy. But the Father's answer is wonderfully gracious — His Son died in our place to satisfy His wrath, allowing Him to forgive us without compromising His righteousness. Let's always recognize our failure to be as holy as God, our inability to obligate our Creator to forgive us, and the immense mercy He has shown us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
We often tend to downplay God's demand for holiness and instead look to someone or something else as our standard. But remember, the Lord has pronounced judgment on His image bearers for failing to reflect His holiness. Thankfully, God has provided a way to escape this judgment by confessing our failures and turning to the One who sacrificed Himself for our salvation.
Respond:
1. What does holiness mean to you, and how can you pursue it in your life?
2. How can you reflect God's character in your interactions with others?
3. What practical steps can you take to live out the principles of justice and love in your community?
Wednesday
Psalm 119:105-112
Discover:
Books filled with knowledge and sound advice might line our library shelves, but if we can't understand what they're saying, all that wisdom won't do us any good. Whether the text is in a language we don't know or the prose is too complex, the understanding promised by a book is useless if we can't actually read and comprehend it.
Thankfully, that's not the case with sacred Scripture. Psalm 119:97–104 praises God's law for its ability to grant wisdom and understanding to those who read and meditate on it. Verse 105, in particular, describes this revelation as a lamp to our feet. Just like we use lights and lamps to illuminate the darkness and help us find our way, Scripture guides us in spiritual and ethical matters. It shows us the way to go, not because leaders and teachers make it so, but because the capacity of Scripture to give clear direction is inherent in the text itself. This means that the Bible being a lamp to our feet contradicts any claim that God's Word is too complicated for the ordinary person to understand.
Understanding and applying divine revelation rightly requires a desire to do what Scripture says. Paul makes this point in 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12, noting that the Lord will blind those who refuse to love the truth. Psalm 119:112 echoes this, emphasizing that the wisdom granted by God's Word is realized only in those whom God has regenerated and given a desire to love and serve Him. The psalmist's praise of Scripture's ability to grant wisdom is tied to his commitment to follow God's commands "forever, to the end" (v. 112).
This resolve means deciding to do what God's Word teaches, even when it's difficult. The psalmist wrote Psalm 119 under great duress but remained steadfast in his faithfulness to the Lord (vv. 106–111). May we all strive to do the same.
By the Spirit's work in our hearts, we should regularly renew our commitment to remain faithful to our Creator. As we seek to understand the Lord's ways as revealed in His Word, He will grant us comprehension as we determine to do what He says. We won't be perfect, of course, but we should see a general determination to follow all that the Lord has commanded us throughout our lives. May God grant us the grace to do what He commands.
Respond:
1. How do you incorporate God's Word into your daily life and decision-making?
2. In what ways has Scripture provided guidance and clarity in challenging situations?
3. How can you deepen your love and appreciation for God's Word?
Thursday
John 14:1-14
Discover:
The disciples were understandably worried after Jesus’ words about His betrayal and departure at the Last Supper. To reassure them, He promised His return to prepare a place for them and that they knew the way to where He was going.
Despite their confusion, Jesus’ comments made sense. He meant they knew the way because they knew Him. As Hebrews explains, Jesus returns to the Father as our forerunner, leading us to heaven (Heb. 6:20). The only way to heaven is through Jesus.
This is confirmed in John 14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the way, the truth, and the life—the only path to the Father. This bold statement emphasizes Christ’s exclusivity. There are no other paths to redemption; only Jesus can reconcile us to the Father.
We must never compromise on this point. Rejecting Jesus’ teachings here means rejecting His other teachings about Himself and His work. Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary John: “Our friends, our community, and even many churches tell us that we must deny the uniqueness of Christ. But to do that, we must deny the church’s confession of faith, and more importantly, we must deny Jesus’ own confession about Himself.”
Respond:
1. How does Jesus' example influence your understanding of right and wrong?
2. In what areas of your life do you need to trust Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life?
3. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ to guide your ethical decisions?
Friday
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Discover:
Baptism is a special ceremony that symbolizes Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our forgiveness. But it also holds deeper truths. The 70th question of the famous “Heidelberg Catechism” explains this. For believers, baptism reminds us of being washed clean by Christ’s Spirit and becoming part of the Christian family.
When we get baptized, we remember that Christ’s work on the cross secured our forgiveness. But we also see that the Holy Spirit continues to purify us. The Holy Spirit regenerated the old covenant people and gave them faith, but the prophets also spoke of a greater Spirit coming to Israel. They hoped for a revival, a Spirit giving that would put God’s law on our hearts and make us completely obedient. This future hope of the old covenant people is recorded in today’s passage.
Ezekiel connects water washing with the Spirit’s outpouring, which is a common theme in the Bible. The “Heidelberg Catechism” and other creeds link water baptism to being born again and the Trinity’s actions. In John 3:5, Jesus emphasizes the importance of water and Spirit baptism for seeing the kingdom. Some traditions think there’s a hidden meaning in this verse, but Jesus clearly connects water and Spirit, showing how the Spirit works. John Calvin says that the Bible often associates the Spirit with water or fire, because it’s so powerful.
God the Holy Spirit brings true cleansing and renewal, driving us to repentance. Water also cleanses and contrasts with filthiness. Christian baptism shows us the Spirit’s work.
Baptism reminds us of God’s cleansing, making sure that wickedness has no place in our lives. If we trust in Jesus Christ by faith alone, we become part of Christ and shouldn’t live like we still belong to Adam. We’ll fail and sin until we’re glorified, but we should see sin as out of place and repent.
Respond:
1. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's transformative work in your life?
2. In what areas do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength?
3. How can you create space in your life to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading?
Saturday
1 Timothy 3:14-16
Discover:
Young Timothy was chosen to lead the church in Ephesus because some teachers had introduced false teachings. Paul wrote 1 Timothy to help Timothy do his job well, teaching him how to run the church properly. Paul chose qualified men to be elders and deacons to stop the heretics from influencing the church and to follow God’s plan for the church.
Paul wrote this letter instead of meeting Timothy in person because he thought it might take too long to get to Ephesus. But he knew the Ephesian problem was urgent, and he wanted Timothy and others to know how to behave in the church, “how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God.”
Paul calls the church the “pillar and buttress of the truth,” but some translations say “foundation.” The church is very important for believers, but it doesn’t make the truth. The Word of God, the writings of the apostles and prophets, is the church’s foundation, with Christ Jesus as the corner stone. As the second-century church father Irenaeus reminded us, the “pillar and ground” of the church is the gospel and the spirit of life.
Paul says the church’s job is to support the truth. As the church follows the Bible, it lives out the truth and shows people that the gospel really works. The church, which God planned, and Jesus started, uses the Holy Spirit to convince the world of God’s love in Christ.
Respond:
1. How do you prioritize Scripture in your daily routine?
2. In what ways has the Bible challenged or encouraged you in your ethical journey?
3. How can you share the wisdom and truth of Scripture with others in your community?