Tag: thought for the day

December 14, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and two chapters of Habakkuk.

December 14: Revelation 5, Habakkuk 2, Habakkuk 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 5. Worship continued in heaven and John saw a scroll, Nobody but the Lamb was worthy to take and open the scroll with seven seals. All broke out in praise, singing a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” and “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

Habakkuk 2. The LORD answered the prophet to his second complaint. It contains this gem, just as valid today as it was then: “The just shall live by his faith“.  On the other hand there was promised more woe to the wicked.

Habakkuk 3 recorded Habakkuk’s prayer, a hymn of faith.

December 13, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation , the last chapter of Nahum and the first chapter of Habakkuk

December 13: Revelation 4, Nahum 3, Habakkuk 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 4. John is shown the throne room of Heaven. Someone is sitting on the throne. A rainbow is over it, 24 elders are around it, in the front are seven lamps, representing the seven-fold spirit of God. Around it are also four creatures, one like a lion, representing Jesus as king (Matthew), one like an ox representing Jesus as a servant (Mark), one with the face of man representing the humanity of Christ (Luke), and the fourth like an eagle representing Jesus is God (John). All sing or say praises, a true worship.

Nahum 3. The prophet Nahum ends with a “woe to Nineveh.”

Habakkuk 1 begins with the prophet’s first complaint and the LORD’s reply. After that the prophet pours out his second complaint.

December 12, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the two first chapters of Nahum.

December 12: Revelation 3, Nahum 1, Nahum 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 3 ends the message to the seven churches: Sardis, the church that claimed to be alive, but in God’s eyes was dead; Philadelphia, the church that kept its faith, and as a reward will be kept from the hour of trial that is coming; and finally the church of Laodicea, the church that thought it had it all figured out and prospered, when in reality they had nothing. These can be seen as seven historical churches, which they were, but also as seven types of churches as they exist today and through history. They can also be taken as seven states of the individual believer. However you take it, there is something in it for every believer, even today.

Nahum 1 speaks of God’s wrath on His enemies, in this case the coming destruction of Nineveh.

Nahum 2 prophesies of the coming fall of Nineveh.

December 11, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the last chapter of Micah.

December 11: Revelation 2, Micah 7 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 2 begins the message to the seven churches: Ephesus, the church that lost its first love; Smyrna, the church that stood firm even when it was persecuted;  Pergamos, a church that looked good but compromised itself, and the church of Thyatira, a corrupted church, but with hope of repentance. These can be seen as seven historical churches, which they were, but also as seven types of churches as they exist today and through history. They can also be taken as seven states of the individual believer. However you take it, there is something in it for every believer, even today.

Micah 7. The prophet expresses deep sorrow for Israel’s sins, coupled with the hope that the nation will rise again and that  God will forgive Israel.

 

December 10, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read the first chapter of Revelation and one chapter of Micah.

December 10: Revelation 1, Micah 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 1. The final book of the Bible begins with an introduction and promises a blessing to all who read it and take it to heart. It sends a greeting to the seven Churches followed by the most wonderful vision of the Son of Man.

Micah 6. The LORD has a case against Israel and will punish Israel’s injustice. One remedy: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?“

December 9, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of Jude and Revelation we read two Psalms and three chapters of Micah.

December 9: Proverbs 30, Micah 4, Micah 5 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Proverbs 30. The sayings of Agur. Solomon wasn’t the only man with wisdom and these sayings made it into the canonical scripture. Two examples: “give me neither poverty nor riches” and “The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.”

Micah 4 speaks of the LORD’s future reign in Zion and Zion’s triumph.

Micah 5.The promise of the coming Messiah: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  But first it promises punishment of Israel’s injustice.

December 8, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of Jude and Revelation we read two Psalms and three champers of Micah.

December 8: Psalm 149, Psalm 150, Micah 1, Micah 2, Micah 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 149. Praise the LORD and sing a new song. With the two-edged sword (of the spirit?) the saints will execute judgement on the nations.

Psalm 150. Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD!

Micah 1. The prophet told of the coming judgment on Israel with mourning for Israel and Judah.

Micah 2. The prophet proclaimed woe to evildoers and lying prophets. After that Israel will restored.

Micah 3. There was wicked rulers and wicked prophets. Micah still had full confidence in God.

December 7, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of Jude and Revelation we read one chapter of Proverbs and the book of Jonah.

December 7: Proverbs 29, Jonah (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Proverbs 29, more proverbs of Solomon; and yes, they still deal with the superiority of wisdom and righteousness over folly and wickedness.

Jonah. The short but great story of Jonah, the famous solar eclipse of  763 B.C. the great solar eclipse of 2017, the coming eclipse of 2024 and the tearing down of statues.

December 6, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read  the letter of Jude and the prophecy of Obadiah.

December 6: Jude, Obadiah (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Jude. Greetings from the half-brother of Jesus Christ to the called ones. Jude tells the followers to contend for the faith for there has crept in apostates in the church,and since they live in the last days he urges them to maintain their life with God and give all glory to God.

Obadiah. A prophecy on the coming judgment on Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Edom mistreated his brother and this will lead to Israel’s final triumph.

December 5, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the third letter of John and  the letter of Jude we read ome chapter in Proverbs and three chapters of Amos.

December 5: Proverbs 28, Amos 7, Amos 8, Amos 9 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Proverbs 28, more proverbs of Solomon. Wisdom is important, so here are many more proverbs about wisdom and righteousness, and the consequences of the lack thereof.

Amos 7. The prophet had a vision of the Locusts, a vision of fire and a vision of the plumb Line, Amaziah told Amos not to prophesy bad things, but that is why Amos, a poor shepherd was called.

Amos 8. The prophet has a vision of the Summer fruit. That seemed good at first, but it signals the beginning of the destruction of Israel.

Amos 9. The final chapter of Amos depicting the destruction of Israel and the promise that  Israel will be restored.